28 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



cate first quality if the package contains 

 more than lo per cent, of inferior fruit — 

 bruised, undeveloped, wormy, or otherwise 

 defective. That allows lo per cent, for 

 accidental inclusion of poor specimens ot 

 rapid packing ; for, of course, all fruit is 

 supposed to be in good condition when 

 packed. The penalty is from i s. to 4s. per 

 package." 



"Is there power to confiscate for a con- 

 travention?" 



" No ; there is no power to confiscate, 

 but a brand is put upon packages in respect 

 of which the act has been contravened, and 

 the packages reach this country with the 

 brands on them. There are twelve inspec- 

 tors examining fruit at packing-houses and 

 at the ports of shipment, and the Act is 

 being strictly enforced. There were ten or 

 twelve prosecutions last year, and there 

 have been others this season although it is 

 not far advanced. It should be explained, 

 however, that Prof. Robertson directed that 

 last year the Act should be made chiefly 

 educational, and the practice of the inspect- 

 ors was to spend most of their time giving 

 information as to the interpretation of the 

 Act. Fines were only imposed toward the 

 end of the season, and the infractions being 

 first offences, the penalties were really 

 nominal." 



" What would be the probable extent of 

 the fine in a case in which you were satisfied 

 there was systematic fraud ?" 

 . "Well, a carload contains 150 barrels. 

 If the inspector finds evidence of systematic 

 fraud in one carload, and the magistrate 

 imposes the maximum penalty, that would 

 mean $150. Another important point is 

 that if the inspectors are engaged in ex- 

 amining a lot of fruit — say at Montreal — 

 and they find evidences of systematic fraud, 

 they would detain the consignment long 

 enough to complete their examination if they 

 have to open every package, and even if the 

 whole consignment should miss the boat for 



which it was intended. On the other hand, 

 however, when the inspectors find uniform 

 and honest packing in a certain brand, of 

 that brand very few packages would be 

 disturbed. In the spring and summer season, 

 and also in the late winter season, the work 

 of the inspectors is largely educational. 

 They are all practical fruitmen — nearly all 

 apple shippers, indeed — and thoroughly 

 understand the cultivation of apples, from 

 the planting of the tree to their marketing 

 of the fruit. During the ' off season * they 

 attend what are called 'farmers* institute 

 meetings,' which are held all over the 

 country, and where they can give informa- 

 tion on any branch of fruit culture upon 

 which the farmers desire enlightenment or 

 advice. Useful work of this kind is done 

 by the Ontario and other provincial govern- 

 ments, and also by the Dominion Govern- 

 ment. In cases where the membership of a 

 farmers' institute is over 50, the Ontario 

 Government, for instance, make a grant 

 towards the expenses of the organization." 



"What about the future possibilities of 

 the trade ?'' 



" There has been a great revival in agri- 

 culture all over the country during the last 

 two years, and the fruit section certainly has 

 not escaped the influence. An important 

 question is the varieties of fruit for which 

 there will be a permanent demand in this 

 country, so that the department can advise 

 farmers what varieties to plant. Then, again, 

 they wish to know the varieties that arrive 

 here in the best condition, and there is also 

 the question of packages. In this latter 

 connection, for instance, I find there is a 

 strong demand for small packages contain- 

 ing about 40 lbs. or 50 lbs. of fruit." 



" What about pears and grapes, about 

 which less is known here than apples ?" 



"In regard to pears the possibilities are 

 almost unlimited, as the acreage on which 

 good pears should be grown is not nearly 

 taken up ; and if the proper varieties are 



